Chapter 2 - The Truth He Chose to Tell
Cassian stopped when he saw Mara beside her.
“Who are you?”
“Her attorney.”
His eyes returned to Nora.
“I need ten minutes.”
“You can have five,” Nora said. “Here. With witnesses.”
He glanced toward the workshop floor. Molly stood beside the office door. Luis had quietly switched off the nearest saw.
Cassian understood the arrangement.
He did not like it.
For once, that was irrelevant.
“There are people looking for material removed from the St. Agnes,” he said.
Nora felt something inside her settle into place.
“You knew.”
“I knew there might be records.”
“When?”
“Two days ago.”
“And instead of telling me, you sent money.”
“I thought freezing you out financially would be their first move.”
“It was.”
His expression tightened.
Nora held up a copy of the fabricated invoice.
“Did you know about this?”
“No.”
“Did your company pay Bellweather?”
“Yes.”
Mara spoke.
“Mr. Rourke, you should consider obtaining your own counsel before continuing.”
“I have counsel.”
“Then perhaps you should call them.”
Cassian ignored her warning.
“Bellweather handled subcontracting for harbor remediation projects. My uncle supervised that division.”
“Victor,” Nora said.
Cassian nodded.
She had met Victor Rourke twice. He had kissed her cheek, praised her independence, and asked whether she owned the land beneath her workshop.
She had thought he was making conversation.
Now she remembered exactly how carefully he had listened to her answer.
Nora set down the invoice.
“What happened last night?”
Cassian looked toward Mara.
Nora’s voice sharpened.
“She stays.”
A long silence followed.
Then he said, “Sabine has been working with my uncle. She knew I was reviewing Bellweather’s accounts. She offered information.”
“So you kissed her for a spreadsheet?”
His face changed.
“No.”
The simple answer struck harder than an elaborate excuse.
“Then explain.”
“She kissed me. I kissed her back.”
Nora swallowed.
“How many times?”
“Last night. Once before.”
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
Around the time her bracelet disappeared.
She looked away long enough to steady herself.
“Were you sleeping with her?”
“No.”
“Am I supposed to feel grateful?”
“No.”
Cassian dragged a hand over his face.
“I liked believing I could handle her. Get what I needed. Keep everything separate.”
“And you enjoyed it.”
His silence answered.
Nora nodded once.
There it was.
Not a misunderstanding.
Not a sacrifice made to protect her.
A choice.
“What about my bracelet?”
“I arranged the repair through a jeweler Sabine recommended. She collected it.”
“You saw it on her wrist.”
“Yes.”
“And you let her wear it.”
“I was going to take it back.”
“When it became convenient?”
He had no answer worth speaking.
Nora turned toward Mara.
“I think we’re finished.”
“Nora, the ledger—”
“Has been documented. We’re contacting investigators.”
Cassian stepped forward.
She stiffened.
He stopped immediately.
“My security chief can arrange protection.”
“Your security men blocked a corridor while I confronted you.”
“They were keeping people out.”
“I was inside.”
He looked as though she had struck him.
For the first time, she wondered whether he had ever imagined what his world looked like from her side of a locked door.
Mara closed her folder.
“Any information you have can come through me.”
Cassian reached into his coat slowly and placed a business card on the workbench.
“Detective Elena Sloane. She has already been asking questions about Leonard Voss.”
Nora looked at the card.
“Where is he?”
“Dead. Eighteen months ago.”
The workshop seemed to become quieter.
“An accident?”
“That was the finding.”
“And you think otherwise?”
“I think my uncle has lied about enough things that I don’t know what to believe.”
Nora stared at him.
“That,” she said, “is something we finally have in common.”
After he left, she made it to the office bathroom before vomiting.
Molly waited outside with water.
“Do you need a doctor?”
Nora leaned against the doorframe.
There was no point hiding from the woman who knew every expense in her life.
“I’m pregnant.”
Molly’s eyes filled.
“Oh, Nora.”
“I was going to tell him last night.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Molly set down the water and held out her arms.
Nora stepped into them.
She cried without making a sound.
Outside, the machinery started again.
May you like
People were still building things.
Somehow, she would have to learn how to do that too.
